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. W l W. KIMBALL.

" 'REGOIL OPBBATVBD BOLT GUN.

Patented Feb. 4., 1896.

(No Moqe1.)'

REGQIL OPERATBD BOLT GUNT No. 554,068.

' 7 Sheds-Sheet 3. W. W. KIMBALL.

- Patented Fleb. 4 `1896- A l u 7 sheets-sheet 4. W. W. KIMBALL.

RBGOIL OPERATED BOLT GUN. Y lvm-554,068. Y Patented Peb. 4, 1896.

.5L/wind aff/ffm "My/ww. 24/6M9 Wwf l@ @7m W. W. KIMBALL. RECOIL OPBRATED BOLT GUN.

7 Sheets-Sheet 5.

(No Model.)

Patented Feb.` 4, 1896.

iNo Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 6;

W. W. KIMBALL. REGOIL OPBRATED BOLT GUN.

Patented Feb. 4, 1896.

.7. t nu nu h S S b e e h S 7 N. U ...nu T LM M... MD ...L TLM KR -E .wDL 0 .L W1 o U E MW d 0 M 0 m Patented 11613.21, 1896.

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Qfzmw/ UNITED STATES IVILLIAM W. KIMBALL, 0F WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF OLUMBIA.

PATENT OFFICE.

- RECOIL-OPERATED BOLT-GUN.

'SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters latent No.`554,068, dated February 4, 1896. Application filed July 28,1887. Renewed July 5, 1895. Serial No. 555,025. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. KIMBA'LL, of Washington city, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Firearms; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to thc accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the breech portion and stock of a shoulderpiece provided with my improved breech mechanism, such mechanism and its operating devices being shown in elevation; Fig. 2, a similar view, enlarged, showing the parts of the breech mechanism and its operating devices in position when the breech is open; Fig. 3, a detail enlarged view, showing the parts of the breech mechanism in position when the breech is closed, a portion of theoperating devices being broken away; Fig. 4, a similar view showing the parts as when the breech is open; Fig. 5, a sectional view on line a: a: of Fig. 3; Fig. 6, a detail plan view of the pusher with its cams; Fig. 7 a detail perspective view showing the groove in the receiver side in which the bolt-locking portion of the locking-lever moves, and the recoilsurface to engage such portion; Fig. 8, a detail perspective view of one of the sides of the pusher, showin g the form of the cams thereon; Fig. 9, a detail view of the lock for the pusher; Fig. 10, a longitudinal sectional view of a pistol with my invention applied thereto; Fig. 11, a detail plan view of the pusher or campiece used with the mechanism shown in Fig. 10; Fig. 12, a detail sectional view showing the locking-bolt and the way in which it' is supported and locks the breech bolt or block; Fig. 13, a longitudinal sectional view of a pistol provided with my breech mechanism and the actuating-pushery with another form of means for moving the pusher, and Fig. 14 a detail plan view of the forward portion of the pusher ,with its cams.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.

The object of my invention is to provide certain improvements in breech-loading firearms; land to this end my invention consists in the mechanism and in the construction, arrangement and combination of parts thereof, as hereinafter specified. l

Such mechanism as will appear from the drawings and the description hereinafter given is, while simple in construction and action, adaptable for use in a large variety of military and other firearms. It can be used to great advantage not only in single-loading and magazine or repeating guns and pistols, but also in machine-guns.

When my invention is applied to a gun or pistol having a magazine and means for feeding the cartridges as desired, such gun or pistol can be either adapted to lire automatically and continuously as long as required or until the cartridges in the magazine are exhausted, or it can be used as a siugle-loader or as an ordinary magazine-arm to be fired by va pull on the trigger.

The change in the use of such a gun or pistol from a 'single-loader to a repeater or machine-gun does not involve any change in or adjustment of the parts of the breech mechanism, and can be made instantly, as will apy pear and be set forth hereinafter.

In the drawings, A designates the receiver, and B the reciprocating breech bolt or block inclosed and guided. in a suitably-shaped channel or passage through the upper portion- In the present case this bolt.

of the receiver. is shown as cylindrical, with longitudinal ribs b b, guided and sliding in corresponding grooves a a at the sides of the bolt channel or passage. in shape, as desired, and can be'guided and able Way.

4No firing pin or rod is shown, as any desired form or constructionof such device can be used, as will be obvious to those familiar all'lllS.

- `C designates the extractor, which can also be of any of the well-known forms and placed at any desirable'locationbn the bolt.

Although the barrel is not shown in the drawings of the shoulder-piece, it will be understood that it is to be screwed or otherwis The bolt can, however, be varied held in place in the receiver in any other suitywith the art of making breech-loading firefastened to the forward portion of the receiver in line with bolt B, as shown in the drawings of the pistols, Figs. 10 and-13.

The receiver is continued rearward to form' the grip of the piece, and the stockD is secured in the rearward portion of the receiver in any desired way. A single pin E, 'extending transversely IOO across the receiver-chamber, serves to snpport the various operative parts of the breech mechanism. Upon this pin are pivoted, at

the opposite sides of said chamber, the two bolt-locks F F, each consisting of a leverarm pivoted near its rear end on the pin and bearing on its other end the locking-brace or boltlocking block F', made thicker than the leverarm.

The receiver is, at the forward end of its chamber, provided with the grooves a a', adapted to allow the locking-blocks F F to rise and fall freely as the bolt-lock levers are swung up and down.

The ribs b b on the bolt B are at their rear ends cut away, so as to allow the blocks F F to swing up behind and in contact with them when the bolt is forward closing the breech.

The forward faces of blocks F F are cut away on a straight line, inclined upward and rearward at a slight angle, as shown, and not on an arc from the pivot-pin E as a center.

The anlttingA ends of the ribs b b are correspondingly shaped so as to fit squarely against the inclined forward faces of the 'blocks when the bolt B is forward closing the breech and the bolt-locks are up inclocking position; With the faces ofthe blocks thus inclined upwardI and inward at an angle to the tangents tothe curves which the blocks ldescribe as they are swung up and down such faces will, obviously, move away from the inclined abutting faces on the rib ends as the blocks are swung down to unlock the bolt.

With this construction, then, there is no danger of the locking-blocks sticking against the ends of the ribs when the bolt is to be unlocked.

It is not intended that any of the recoil or backward thrust on the breech-block shall be supported or taken up by the lever-arms of the bolt-locks or by the pivot-pin E; but' that it should all be taken by the curved abutments G G on the receiver at the rear sides of the upper -portions of the grooves a a. 'Such abutments, engaging as they do the cur-ved rear sides of the bolt-locking blocs F' F, aord recoil-surfaces to support t e blocks in themost efficient manner against any rearward or downward pressure by the inclined ends of ribs b b upon the forward faces of the blocks.

It is intended to provide for suicient play or lost motion of the bolt-lock lever-arms upon the pivot-pin E, or enough spring of the leverarms themselves, so that the recoil blocks rorV abutments G G shall take up all of the recoil, and none of it shall be transmitted to the pin.

With the upper curved recoil-surfaces on the abutments G Grunnin g upward and rearward, as shown, and with "the blocks F F having the curved surfaces at their rear side fitting against such recoil-surfaces, any possible rearward thrust of the rib ends on the breech-bolt will be taken up safely by the recoil-surfaces without any d'angerof forcing the blocks F F' downward.

On the lower side of the pivotal portion of each of the locking-lever arms below and respectively in front and to the rear of the pivot-pin E are the two downwardly-extending cam projections or lugs f f. Also piv- -oted upon pin E on opposite sides of its middle point and close beside the locking-lever arms are the two bolt-actuating levers H H, which l term throwersv When the bolt is forward in position to close the breech of the firearm the upper portion of these throwers extend forward and upward into sockets b b in the opposite sides of the rear portion of the bolt B. Each of these -socketsis made flaring downward and upward, as shown, so as to leave the angular abutments b2 b2 at its for center will throw the bolt positively forward y or back. Each of these levers is provided with a slot H', engaged bythe pivot-pin, such slot being so arranged as to have its front end in engagement with the pin when the breechbolt is closed and the lever is swung forward.

From the pivot-pin the slot has then. a slight upward inclination to the rear. On each of the levers also, and extending downward and -rearward from the heel thereof, is a lug or rigid arm H2, and on the forward side of each lever, near its upper end, is an inclined shoulder h, adapted'to engage the portion a2 of the receiver when the lever is shoved forward, as and for the purpose hereinafter set forth.-

Pivoted on the pin E, l,between the two throwers, is the hammer I, which can of course be of -any desired shape or construction. The hammer-cam is provided with the usual halfcock or safety and full-cock notches i and fi', respectively, adapted to be engaged in the ordinary way by the trigger I' or by a scar actuated by-a trigger.

The hammer is vpreferably made of such thickness as to fill the space between the two bolt-throwing levers, as indicated clearly in.

Fig. 5. The rear yportion of the hammer-cam is cut away on both sides, so as to leave th eradially-extending shoulders '112 i2 for a purpose to be described hereinafter.

The mainspring 12 can be of any of the ordinary for-ms or constructions engaginga suitable notch or shoulder on the rear side of the 'hammencam in the well-known way.

.the breech, I have provided the reciprocating cam-carrying piece K, vwhich I term the pusher. This piece, whichreciprocates IOO IOS

iro

tsecee 3 i below the pivot-pin E, .is guided on the ribs or ways 10 10 on .the inner sides of the receiverwalls. ward on .opposite sides of the hammer-cam, and its sides or forkfarms are provided with corresponding and similar means for actuating the duplicate partsof ythe breech lmechan- .short plane surface 104 in a plane parallel to thatof the plane surface 103. Extending rearward from the top 'of the other .cam 103 is the plane .or straight surface 1&5 in the same plane with the elevated 'surface v104. These .cams and surfaces are .directly -below the pivotal portions of the bolt-locking levers, and are brought into engagement with .the cam-lugs ff on such levers as the pusher is moved forward and back .on its guides in the receiverchamber.

With the pusher in its rearward position, as shown in Figs. land 3, the forward camlugs, ff,.on the two locking-levers rest on the ferward raised plane surfaces, h4 104,`on`the pusher-forks, while the rear lugs, f f', rest on the lower plane surfaces, 103 103, between the cams 10' 102. The locking-levers will thus be held securely in .their .elevated positions with the hclt-leckingblocks engaging the rearends of ribs b h .on the bolt, Vand locking the latter, as described hereinbefore.

As the pusher is moved forward, .the raised plane surfaces 104 104 will slide underthe forward cam-lugs onthe levers for a time, the lower-plane faces, 103 103,1neanwhi1e passing under the rear cam-lugs, f'f. During this portion of the movement of the pusher the locking-levers will then, obviously, he kept in their elevated bolt-locking positions. Upon continued movement of the pusher the raised surfaces 104104 pass from under the forward the holt.

cam lugs-.or projections on the levers, leaving.

such'levers free to he swung Adown to unlock After said surfaces `104 104 have passed under and beyond the said for.- ward `lugs on the levers, .the cams or inclines 10*x kgcome in contact with the rear lugs or cam projections,- f f', on the levers and force them upward, so as to' swing the levers downward into the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4, unlocking the bolts. The forward camflugs,

ff, :then resten the lower plane surfaces, 103 k3,

while the rear lugs, f f', rest on .the rear per or raised plane-surfaces',1 05 105, andthe lef `vers are locked in their depressed positions.

It is forked to inclose or extend for- During the further continued forward movement of the pusher the levers will now` remain unmoved, for the upper and lower parallel plane surfaces will slide under and in contact with the rear and forward lugs f' f' @Rdf f, respectively. t The lower or depressedfplanefsurfaccs, 'k3 103, on the pusher-fork arms are of such length with reference .to the distances between :the forward and rear lugs o n :the locking-levers that as the rear lugs are engaged by and 'ride up over the rear cams, 102 102., the lugs ride down over the :front cams, 10' 10. .After the levers have been rocked .dOW'll vand :the rear upper and lower parallel surfaces o n the pusher are in engagement with the rear ,and forward lugs, f f Land f f, respectively, the pusher can continue to move forward without moving the .lockin g-leve1s,' whih remain locked in their lowered positions, ,leavin-'g the bolt B unlocked .and free .to .beslid back by .the bolt-actuating levers 'H H, .seas gto open the breech. In eachof vthe fark-.arms .of :the pusher is a slctlc6 made aringadew-nward, as shown, (see Figs. 3, 6, and 8,) into which prejects .the arm Hon .the respective holt-actuating lever H, supported, as described here- 'inbefore, above Athe forkfarmon thepivQt-p1n E. With this construction, as the pusher K moves to actuate .the locking-levers, as ,de-

scribed above, the real-.ends of the slats 106.166, engaging the .arms H2 H2, move the ldwerfporf tionsof the levers H H bodily forward nnthe pin E, .such .movement being allowed-ier .by

the slots H H'engaging the pin.

` 'As the bolt-locking 'levers are swung down by the action .of the .cams .on the pusher, the bolt fthrowing levers .or throwers 'H H :are moved forward so `that .the cam-.shouiders h h thereon strike the sclid v abutment .er piece a? onrthe receiver. Furtherforwaudmolvemelrt of the lowerpor-tions of the-tlirnwers then, obviously, cause .a pryingiaction to force the bolt backward.

The power exerted upcn ,the lowerportions of the throwers has now the advantage of IOO IIO

great leverage, so that the bolt will be leasily started back 1even a .cartridge-shell whose ange is .engaged bythe extractor tends to stick in the vchamber of the barrel.. The bolt being thus loosened and started back, .continued :movement of the pusher .and the lower portions of the throwers brings the rear ends of slots HH against the pin E.

Y Thepivotal point vof each of Athe. levers .is now this pin, and the .arms H2 H-2 being quite short with vrelation tothe portions of the levers above the pin, the lloosened bolt will v.obviously be thrown a quick movement back te its yrearward limit, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, withdrawing the .cartridge-shell clear of the barrel so that it can be thrown .out ,or ejected byV any desired ejecting device.

.On the inner sides of the two forkfarmson' the pusher are the .corresponding cams 107 107 sides .of the hammer-cam. They are so situated that before the pusher has started on its forward movement to actuate the various parts of the breech mechanism, as described above, their forward ends are immediately in the rear of the shoulders 2 7? when the hammer is forward and not cocked or swung back.

shoulders 2 012, cock the hammer suiiiciently to allow the full-cock notch i to be properly engaged by the nose of trigger I' or bya sear provided therefor. In order to lock the pusher in its forward position when desiredn as, for instance, when the gun is used as a single-loader and a cartridge is to be supplied to the gun by hand-I have provided,the trigger L, pivoted on the same pin with the hammer-trigger. This trigger L is forked at its pivotal portion to embrace trigger l and extends at each side out below the fork-arms of the pusher, which on their lower sides are provided with the corresponding notches Z Z, adapted to be engagedK at the same time by the extended nose or edge of the trigger.

A trigger-sprin g L normally holds the trigger-nose pressed against the lower sides of the pusher-fork arms in position to engage the notches when they are brought over the trigger by the forward movement of the pusher.

1f the trigger L be held or moved out of engagement with the notches l l on the pusher and the latter be moved back from its forward position, (shown in Figs. 2 and 4,) the forward sides or ends of the slots 105106 o n the fork-arms engage the arms H2 I-l2 on the boltthrowing levers and move. them backward.

As 4the slots H H' inthe thrower-levers are now substantially at right angles to' the line of motion of the pusher, thg first movement .of the levers is about the pivot-pin E as the center, and the long upper arms of the levers have, consequently, av quick forward throw,

sending the bolt forward to drive the car tridge into the barrel and close the breech. Upon continued movement of the pusher the thrower-levers, having been swung forward so as to'bring the slots H' H down substam' tially parallel with the line of movement of thel pusher, aremoved bodily rearward intov the position shown in Figs. l and 3. -The hammer is retained in cocked position by the trigger I in the usual way. During the movement of the pusher,which causes, as described above, the thrower-levers to swing and throw the breech-block forward, the upper and lower surfaces, 105155 and k3 las', are passing rearward under and in contact with the lugs f j" and f f, respectively, on the locking-levers. The latter levers are thus held -in their lowered positions until the thrower-levershave thrown the bolt B forward. The rear cams, k2 k2, then come below the rear lugs, f' f', which ride down over them, while the forward cams, k' lo', engage the forward lugs, ff, and force them upward, thereby swinging the levers upward to bring the locking-blocks thereon up in contact with the inclined surfaces at Ithe rear ends of ribs b b on the breech-bolt and sides of the locking-blocks F F engage theinclined surfaces on the rear ends of ribs b b on the bolt, and will force the bolt forward to close the breech tightly if it has not been thrownA quite far enough by the thrower-levers. The piece can`now be fired by pulling the trigger l to cause it to release the hammer, which is pressed forward by the mainspring. 1

As all the operative parts of the breech.

mechanism are actuated from the movement of' a single piece (the-pusher) their relative movements must always take place in theV IOO same order, and there is no possibility. of any 1 part being moved at the wron g time or in the wrong direction. The locking-levers cannot swing down until there has been a certain predetermined amount of movement of the pusher, and the bolt-throwing levers cannot operate to loosen the bolt and cartridge-shell.

and throw both back until the locking-blocks on the locking-levers' have been disengaged from the ribs b b on the bolt B, and have left the grooves 0ll a open toward the rear for the ribs b b to slide backward with the bolt B;

With the cams la7 k7 on the pusher in po sition to engage the shoulders on thehammercam when the first movement of the pusher takes place, not only will the hammer be rez tracted a certain distance during the prelimip nary. or first movement of the pusher before the locking-levers are moved at all to lock` the bolt, but the hammer cannotdescend the full distance to strike the firing-pin in the bolt B until the pusher is at its extreme front position and the locking -ilevers are consequently up in position'to securely lock the bolt with the locking-blocks F' F'. Itis then,

with my mechanism, absolutely impossible to` fire the piece while the parts' of the breech ymechanism are in a dangerous position, or

while the bolt is unlocked.

The reciprocating cam-piece, or pusher, as I term it, can be operated or actuated in. any desired way and. by any desirable means. Cranks, levers, or cams can be used for this purpose either alone or supplemented by springs. A

I have described the pusher as being moved forward and back with reference to the breech mechanism; but, obviously, the result and action will be the same if ithe pusher is stationary and the said mechanism moves back and forward with reference to it.

l. In Figs. l to 9, inclusive, of the-drawings I show my invention as applied to shoulderguns soy that the breech-mechanism will be actuated by the recoil of the gun, while in Figs. 10 to 12, inclusive, I show it as applied in substantially the same way toa pistol.

In the gun shown in Figs. l'to 9-the pusher is provided with a rearwardly-extending rod or tang K', which-passes through a longitudinal passage in the stock in a direction substantially parallel with the barrel and breechbolt of the gun. Pivo'ted to the toe of the stock is the movable butt-plate M having near its heel end the lug m provided with a slot fm.' engaging the bent end of or a lug on the` rod K'. The end of the stock is cutaway at anangle from 'the toe to the heel, so as lto leave room for swinging of 'the butt-plate von its pivot or hinge m2. A spring M', which can be of any Adesired shape, but is, preferably, as shown, of the well-known V form, presses the plate rearward or outward, so as to hold it normally inthe same position with relation to the stock as an ordinary xedbuttplate. r'Io cover the space between this swinging plate and the butbend when the plate is swung outward, I prefer to provide `the plate with cheek-pieces Voriianges to lap over the edges or sides of the cut-away end oft-he stock, and also with the portion M2 extending and slidingover the heel ofthe stock.

To allow Afor the forward swinging' o'f the hinged butt-plate, I sho-w a notch M3 made in the stock near its heel, into which the forwardly-extending portion M? -on the plate can slide as the plate swings on its hinge. Said portion M2 is preferably slotted, as shown at M2, and a piu 'or screw 'm3 passing through the slot and into the stock serves to steady and 4guide the free end zof 'fhg butt-plate in its movements. 'a

Where, as I con-template, instead'of a hi-n ged butt-plate,- one is used which will slide or move directly toward or from the butt or stock end with a reciprocating movement, ofcourse no notch or cut in the lrear or upper side of the stock need be made. The plate can then be guided -in its rectilineal movements by dowel-pins or other guiding means.

The operation of my mechanism in the shoulder-arm, as described, is briefly as fo.-` lows: With a cartridge in the gun and the butt-plate M resting against the shoulder of the one -firing the gunor against any stationary abutment, if the trigger I' is pulled to let the hammer iiy forward and fire the cartridge the recoil of the gun, which takes place v'as the bullet leaves 'the muzzle, will move the whole piece'bodily toithe rear. As the plate 4Mcannot move, the pusher K with its tang connected to the plate, as described, will re`- main stationary while the gun and its breech mechanism move bodily backward with reference to it and its various cams. moves rearward and the butt-plate is stationary, the springM will, obviously, becom# pressed and will store up power to be used as hereinafter set forth. Said spring will, also, in taking up the recoil of the gun prevent any shock coming upon the shoulder of one firing the piece. As the gun moves rearward under the recoil, the forward lugs, ff, on the locking-levers pass olf of the elevated plane surfaces k* 104 and down over cams lo la', while` the rear' lugs, f f', engage 4and ride -up over cams k2 k2, so 'that the levers are swung down to disengage the locking-blocks F F from the ends of ribs b b on the breech -bolt. Meanwhile the hammer is beingcammed back by the engagement of the shoulders 722 i2 thereon with the cams k7 k7,`and the throwerlevers H H are held from moving back by the engagement of' their arms IPH2 with the slots k la in the pusher arms or forks. Continued movement of the gun to the rear then causes theshou-lders h h on the vrespective levers to engage the abutment a2 on the receiver, so as to pry the breech-block loose and start i-t back, as :hereinbefore described. The pivotpin E then moving-rearward, strikes the rear As the gun endsof slots H' H' in 'the throwerlevers, and

causes such levers to swing rapidly rear- IOO ward around the pi'n as a center and throw the bolt B quickly back into its position.

As a certain amount ofpreliminary backward motion -of the gu-n is necessary in order to :carry the forward lugs, ff, on the llockinglevers off of the forward elevated plane sur- 4fully-open faces, 7a4 k, on the pusher, there can be no IIO the pusher holds the same inthe position into l which it has been brought with relation' to the various parts of the breech mechanism. A cartridge havin g been put in position in 'front' of the bolt end, soas to enter Vthe chamber in the barrel, if the trigger L be pulled the spring l `M throws the plate M and the pusher rearward, causing the cartridge to be 'pushed by' `the bolt into thegbarrel and the bolt to be locked in themanner fully described hereinbefore. If the trigger L be held ou-t -of engagernent with the pusher, the breech mechanism will, by the recoil of `the onniring, be opened and then automatically closed again l immediately by the action of the spring M.

If the gun isl provided with a suitable magazine, it can be used as a very rapidly-firing repeater, for their with the trigger L pressed back the breech mechanism will be automatically opened, the old cartridge-shell thrown out, a new cartridge put in place in front of the breech-bolt and the breech closed and locked, putting the gun in readiness for firing by pulling the trigger I to release the hammer.

With a proper magazine and feeding mechanism therefor, if both triggers L and I be pressed back out of operative position the loading and ring of the gun will go on continuously until the cartridges in the .magazine are exhausted, for as the breech-bolt is thrown forward by the action of spring M upon the breech mechanism as described herein'before, the hammer will travel forward behind the bolt and will strike the ring-pin so as to iire the. cartridge after the bolt is closed and locked.. I

While the cams k7 k7 o n the pusher by their engagement with the shoulders i2 i2 on the hammer-cam prevent the hammer from'strik ing the firing-pin before the breech is closed and locked, they do not prevent the hammer from delivering a-ring-blow on the pin after the closing of the breech, as thedistance from the pivot-pin to the point of engagement of the cam k7 with the .shoulder on the hammercani is much less than the distance from the pin to the Striking part of the hammer-arm.

With my breech-mechanism-actuating devices as described the recoil of the gun upon firing obviously acts upon both the 4mainspring and the spring M to put both under tension, and both springs act together to take up the recoil.

With the hammer cocked and held by the trigger I'y and the,breech closed the stress of spring M needs'only to be overcome if the breech is tobe opened without or before iiring the gun.

To lock 'the pusher K against movement when the gun is not being fired I provide the pusher-tang K with the lug K2, adapted to be engaged by the latch or bolt N when the pusher is at its extreme rearward position. (Shown in Fig. 1.) Such bolt passes down through the upper portion ofthe grip of the stock in such position that the hand in gripping the stock will engage and press downward the head N on its upper end. The main portion of the bolt or latch is slotted at n to embrace the pusher-tang, the part of the bolt at the lower en d of the slot being the part which engages the lug K2. A spring n', situated in a suitable recess below the end' ofthe bolt, acts to throw the bolt upward into position to engage the. lug when the head N is not pressed down The latch or bolt engaging the lug on the pusher-tang holds the pusher securely from movement during any handling of the piece, even when the latter' is brought upward from their front ends.

to order arms with the 'butt-plate' on the lany thought or care on the matter being necessary on the part of vthe one'using the piece, for in `the very act of gripping the stock, so as to put his finger on the trigger, he depresses the pusher lock or latch, causing it to disengage lug K2.

I do not limit myself to the form or construction of the pusher-lock shown andv described, though I prefer that form. lOther swinging or reciprocating devices for the same purpose may be used as desired.

The slots H H in the main or pivotal portions of the bolt-thrower levers H H are, as shown, not quite horizontal vor parallelwith 'the pusher K when the throwers are forward and the breech closed, but are inclined slightly This is to prevent binding on the pivot-pin E when the throwers have been moved by the pusher, so as to bring their shoulders h h against abutment a2, and are caused to move or swing about such shoulders as pivotal points or fulcra.

The slots can, if desired, be slightly curved for the same purpose. v

In Figs. 10, 11, and l2 of the drawings I show a pistol provided with recoil-actuated breech mechanism operating'upon the same principle as the mechanism already shown and described in connection with a gun.

Some of the details of construction are slightly altered; but the mechanism operates vin the same way.

Instead of having the bolt-locking blocks on the swinging levers, I prefer to have a single sliding blockl or lock F reciprocating in guides at right angles to the rib b on the side of the breech-bolt.

A vertical groove a in the receiver side serves to guide and hold said sliding lock IOO IIO

against rearward movement, the rear side of are the same cam-lugsfand f as are on thelocking-levers of the gun.

The single bolt-thrower' H, precisely like those used in the gun mechanism, is pivoted on the pivot-pin E on the opposite side of the hammer I from the locking-'lever F, and has its arm H projecting down into the slot lor opening k6 in the pusher K. This pusher, like one fork-arm of that already described,

. has besides this slot the two cams 7c and k2 for engaging the cam-lugs f and f/ on the thrower-lever, the lower plane surface, k3,con

necting these two cams andthe forward and rear elevated plane surface, 7a4 and las, extend-4 ing, respectively, forward from the upper end of cam la' and rearward from the top of cam k2. The manner in which these cams and surfaces act upon the cam-lugs on the lockinglevers is fully set forth'hereinbefore and need notbe described now.

In my pistol, as shownin Fig. 10, the mainspring I2 is not shown as applied directly to the hammer, as in my gun mechanism, andv in the pistol shown in Fig. 13. Instead the -mainspring is used to actuate the pusher andI the hammer is moved by the latter.

A tongue 713 on the hammer-cam engages a recess los in the forward portion of the pusher. Extending rearward from this recess is a depression k" having a plane straight bottom klo running parallel with .the line of movement of the pusher.

The receiver A of the pistol has a tangA2 running down within the stock D and pivoted thereto at d. The rear side of this movable stock is continued upward within the receiver, and is forked, as shown in Fig. 11,r to embrace the rear end of the tang K' on pusher K. A pin d passes through the forked arms of the upper end of the stock and a hole d2 in the pusher-tang end. Such hole is slightly elongated vertically, so as to allow enough play to permit the proper swing of the stock on its pivotal connection-with the lowerend of the receiver-tang. The mainspring 12 is in this case preferably of the V shape and engages the rear side of the tang A2 and the inner side of the rear wall of the stock D. -I The upper portion of the stock is thus normally held swung rearward and the connected pusher is retained in its rear position; or, to put it otherwise, the pistol and the breech'mechanism are normally held swung forward and downward with reference to the stock and the breech mechanism is held forward with reference to the` pusher. A trigger I' is provided, adapted to engage with its nose the notch Z in the pusher when the latter has been moved forward to open the breech mechanism and has traveled rearward again far enough to cause the locking-lever F to rise and lock the bolt; or, to express it dier ently, the trigger engages the notch when the breech mechanism has movedrearward with reference to the pusher and has traveled forward again to a point where the breech-bolt is locked. If now, with the stock or handle D held in the hand, the trigger be pulled, the pistol, with .the breech mechanismwill fiy forward and downward, and the hammer will, by the contact of the short arm is on the hammer-cam with the forward side of recess los, be

'swun g quickly forward to deliver a rin g blow on the fir-in g pin or bolt. (Not shown.) Upon firing the pistol the recoil thereof willv throw it rearward and upward again. Such move ment, carrying the breech mechanism rearward with relation to the pusher, besides unlocking the bolt and throwing it back, swings the hammer quickly back by the engagement of the rear side of recess ks with arm 3.

When the hammer has been thus fully re-l tracted, so as to let the bolt B pass back over it, the arm i3 passes out of 'recess ks and slides back over the plane surface k1 without further swinging of the hammer.

and suitable feed mechanism to feed the cartridges in front of the bolt,when the pistol flies up and the trigger l be held out of engagement with the pusher, thepistol will continue to fire and load automatically and rapidly until the cartridges are exhausted. If the trigger be let go, it will engage the notch in the pusher when the pistol thrown up. by the recoil falls forward, and the pistol can then trigger. y

In the form of pistol shown in Figs. 13 and 14 of the drawings the -pusher is actuated by a supplemental trigger or lever, and not by the recoil. Said pusher is guided like those already shown and described, and has cams upon it for actuating the bolt-locking lever and the thrower in lprecisely the same way as such devices are actuated by the cams on the pusher shown in Fig. .10. In. this case, however, the pusher is forked to embrace the hammer-cam, as in the gun mechanism, and the opposite. for-karms are provided with the cams for actuating,respectively,the bolt-locking and bolt-throwing levers.

For retracting or cooking the hammer as 'the pusher is moved forward in the receiver, one arm of the pusher is provided with the depression k, which receives a shoulder i2 on the side of thehammer-cam. The rear side of this depression engaging the rear side of the shoulder swings thehammer bac-k as the pusher moves forward until the shoulder swings up and rides on the top of the pusherfork arm. Movement of the pusher can then be continued without further movement of the hammer, which is held cammed back until the pusher moves back again to its rearward position.

The trigger I' engages the safety and fullcock notches in the hammer-cam in the usual way, and an arm of the mainspring acts directly on the hammer. vAnother arm of' the spring engages a lug k12 on the pusher, so as to` normally force the latter rearward into the position shown in Fig. 13.

For movin-g the pusher forward to open the breech and cock the hammer I providethe forked trigger or lever 0, having the slot o' in each of its fork-arms engaging a pin O' on the pusher. I do not limit myself to this construction of lever or its peculiar connection with the pusher. Other means can be used for reciprocating the latter without departure from my invention. y

In operation, when itis desired to load the pistol as a single-loader, the trigger O is pulled 'to force the pusher forward. The latter, through the mechanism described and shown, unlocks breech-bolt B, cocks the hammer and throws the bolt back. A cartridge having If the pistol be provided with a magazine be fired, when desired, by simply pulling the roo IIO

been put in pla-ce to be pushed into the barrel, the trigger O is released and the pusher is thrown rearward by spring I2 so as to throw the breech-bolt forward and lock the same. The hammer is retained in cocked position by the trigger I', and thepistol is ready for firing. I contemplate providing this form of pistol also with a magazine and means for feeding the cartridges therefrom into the space in front of the breech-bolt when the latter is retracted, so that rapidjiring can be kept up by pulling triggers O andvI alternately.

Either form of pistol shown and described provided with a suitable magazine furnishes a most convenient as well as eicient weapon for cavalry use whether single firing or rapid continuous ring is desired, as only one hand is needed at any time in iirin g and loading the piece. f

In neither form of pistol does the hand gripping the stock have to bei moved or changed in position whether the piece is being fired slowly and discontinuously or rapidly.

A carbine made in the same way as my gun can also be used by cavalry with great advantage, as only one hand is needed to handle it. and there is no llever or arm to be operated by the other hand.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isl. In combination with the breech-block of a firearm, a lock for the block a lever connected with the lock pivoted on a support independent of the block and provided with-the two cam-lugs, anda movable'piece provided with double cams to engage the lugs, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In combination with the breech-block of a firearm the locking-lever provided with the two lugs or projections, the reciprocating piece provided with the two cams to alternately engage the lugs as the piece is reciprocated, and having the plane surface between the cams, and the two plane surfaces extending from the tops of vthe cams, substantially as and for thepurpose described.-

` 3. In a breech mechanism for firearms in combination with the breech bolt or block and the lock for the same, the block-operating lever having on opposite sides of its pivot lugs or prog ectlons, a reciprocating cam-piece v. having the two opposite cams, the plane surface connecting the lower ends of the cams, and raised plane surfaces extending out from the upper ends of the cams, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. In a breech mechanism for firearms, in

' combin tion with the breech block or bolt and a lock t erefor, the locking-lever having the two lugs below and on opposite sides of its pivot and the pusher provided with the two camsjadaptedto' engage the lugs alternately andthe 'two elevated plane 'surfaces extendopposite cams, substantially as and for the purpose shown.

the rear sides of the locking-blocks when they are up inlocking position, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.v

In combination with the breech-bolt and the abut-m ents or shoulders on each side thereof t'o engage the bolt-locks, the recoil-surfaces to be engaged by the locks, the two levers carrying the bolt-locks adapted to be passed up between the recoil-surfaces and the shoulders on the bolt, a movable piece or pusher and connecting means'between the same and the levers whereby said levers are swung together up and down, to lock and unlock the bolt by reciprocation of the pusher, substantially as and for the purpose described.

y 7. In combination with the breech-bolt locking-lever having the two lugs on-opposite sides of its pivot, the pusherprovided with the forward and rear raised surfaces adapted to ride under and support the forward and rear lugs on the lever as the pusher is moved to the rear and front, respectively, the two oppositely-inelined cams leading to such surfaces and the lower plane surface between' the cams parallel to the raised plane surfaces, substantially as and for the purpose speciiied.

8. In a breech mechanism for firearms, in combination with the breech-bolt, a lever fulcrumed on a bearing independent of the bolt andengaging a portion of the latter so as to reciprocate it -as the lever swings, and a sliding piece or pusher connected with the lever- Vso as to swing the same, substantially as and for the purpose shown.

9. In a breech mechanism for firearms, in combination with the. breech bolt, the

thrower-leve-r connected with the bolt and having'the shoulder h, the abutment on the frame adapted to4 be engaged by this-shoul-- der, and means for moving the lever to bring the shoulder against the abutment and swing the lever about the point of engagement of the shoulder and abutment, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. A

10.' In combination with the pivot-pin and the thrower-lever provided with the slot engaging the pivot-pin, and with the shoulder,

the fixed abutment to be engaged by 'thel shoulder and the breech-bolt provided wit suitable bearing-surfaces engaged by the lever for retracting the bolt, substantially as and for the-purpose-described.

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1l. In combination with the pivot-pin, the

breech-bolt and the bolt-thrower lever, prog vided with the slot engaging the pin, an arm on its lower end, anda shoulder near its upsis per end, the breech-bolt providedwith lugs or bearings engaged by the upper end of the lever, a movable piece engaging the arm on the lever and an abutment on the frame to be engaged by the shoulder on the lever for starting the bolt back, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

` 12. In combination with the breech-bolt of a breech mechanism for firearms, a throwerlever for reciprocating the bolt and a fixed abutment forming a fulcrum to be engaged by the lever to enable it to pry the bolt back at the beginning of its movement and means for throwing the lever quickly backward after such prying action, substantially as and for the purpose shown. I

13. In combination with the breech-bolt and the pivot-pin, the thrower-lever connected with the bolt at its upper end and having a forward inclination when the bolt is closed, the lever being provided with. a slot engaging and extending rearward from the pivotfpin, with a shoulder near its upper end, and with an arm on its lower end, the iiXe'd abutment to be engaged by the shoulder, and a reciprocating piece provided with asocket or recess to engage said arm, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

14. In combination with the breech-bolt and the pivot-pin, the two bolt-.throwing levers each having a slot to engage the pin, an arm on its lower end, and a shoulder near its upper end, bearings on the bolt engaged byth'e levers a fixed abutment for engagement with the shoulders on the levers, and the pusher `having openings or recesses to engage the arms on the levers, substantially as and for the purpose described.-

1 5. In combination with the breech-.bolt provided with the two opposite bearingsurfaces with a passage between them, the pivot-pin, the lever proj ecting up into such passage and having the slot in its lower portion engaging the pin and extending rearward therefrom when the lever is swung forward, and the pusher having a recess adapted to engage an arm on the lower end of the lever, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

16. VIn combination with the breech-bolt,the hammer and the bolt-locking mechanism, the pusher for actuating such mechanism and engaging-cams on the pusher and hammer to retract the hammer when the bolt is unlocked, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

17. In combination with the breech-bolt and the locking mechanism therefor, the pusher connected with such mechanism, so as to operate the same as it is moved, and provided with a cam, the hammer, and a shoulder thereon engaged by the cam on the pusher, substantially as and ,for the purpose described. r

18. In combination with the bolt-locking lever, the reciprocating pusher provided with cam devices to actuate the lever to lock and unlock the bolt as the pusher is reciprocated, the hammer and a cam on the 'pusher |engaging a shoulder on-the hammer so as to cam back the latter, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

19. In abreech-loadin g firearm, in combination with the breech-block, a reciprocating piece having on it the two oppositely-inclined cams with a plane surface between them, and plane surfaces extending in opposite directions from them and the breech-block lockinglever having the two projections or lugs on opposite sides of its pivot to engage the cams and surfaces on the reciprocating piece, the relative arrangement of these lugs and the cams being such that only the central portion of the movement of the piece causes movement of the lever, and the latter is locked in position during the beginning and end of the movement of the piece, substantially as'and for the purpose shown.

20. In abreech-loading firearm in combination with the breech-bolt and the locking surfaces L14 105 extending in opposite directions from the cams,the locking-lever provided with the cam-lugs on opposite sides of its pivot and the bolt-throwing lever actuatedby thev pusher to throw the bolt open and shut as the pusher reciprocates with relation to the breech mechanism, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

22'. In combination with the breech-bolt and the bolt-lockin g lever having the two lugs on opposite sides of its pivot, the'pusher having the surfaces lo* c5,the opposite cams c' k2 joined to such surfaces, the sui-face los between the cams, the thrower-lever having the shoulder h, the slot H and the arm H2 engaging a recess in the pusher, the iixed abutment a2 and the pivot-pin E, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

23. In a breech-loading firearm, in combina-l d tion 'with the breech-bolt, the locking device therefor, a lever to throw themsbolt, and the hammer, a single reciprocating pusher provided with cams whichiengage co-operating parts on the lockingdevice, the bolt-thrower lever and the hammer for properly actuating the locking device and. thrower-lever and throwing back the hammer as the pusher is moved with reference to the breech mechanism, substantially as and for the purpose' the forked pusher having on its two fork-arms cams for actuating thelocking-levers to`l gether, shoulders or cams for moving correy' lspondingly the two bolt-throwing levers, and

'verstogether and lock them in corresponding positions, engaging-shoulders for actuating the bolt-throwing levers after Vthe bolt is unlocked, and cams to engage the shoulders onthe hammer-cam, substantially as and for the purpose described."l

N26. In combination with the hammer having ashoulder on its cam, and the mainspring, the pusher having a cam engaging the shoulder on the hammer-cam,fso as-to cock the hammer on the forward movement of the pusher, the swinging: butt-plate hinged to the stock, and connecting means-'between this plate and the pusher, whereby the pusher and-plate are causedto move together, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

27. In combinationwithahammerprovided with a full-cock notch and a shoulder on its cam, the pusher provided with a shoulder adapted to vengage the shoulder on the hammer-cam, so as to cock the hammer as the pusher is moved forward with reference to ghe hammer, the movable butt-plate connectgd' with the pusher, the springengaging the )late ,and the main or hammer spring, subxtantially as and, for the purpose shown. 28. In abreechloading firearm, incombinaion` with the breech mechanism andthe )usher foroperating the same, a piece conieeted-with the pusher and made movable vith reference to the breech mechanism carryrig partof the gun, whereby'the pusher can ejheld against backward movement while uchpartis allowed to move rearward, sub` tantially as and for the purpose specified. y 29 In abreech-loading rearm, in combinaion with the breech mechanism, the pusher, leans substantially as described for holding s described between thebreech mechanism July, A. D. 1887; he latter against rearward movement kwhile i llowin'g the 'piece to'be moved by the recoil f firing, and connecting means substantially held locked during the irst 'rearward motion of the piece,and then is unlocked and opened, vsubstantially as and for the purpose shown.

30. In a breech-loading firearm, in combination with the breech-bolt` and the breechbolt lock and the lever for operating the same, having a cam-lug, the pusher connected with means substantially as described for holding it stationary while allowing the gun to move rearward under the recoil of firing and the surface on thepusher engaging the lug on the locking position during the first portion of the recoil movement of the gun, substantially as and for the purpose set fort 31. In a breech-loading firearm, in combination with the locking-lever for the breechbolt, having lugs `-onits pivotal portion, in front and rear of its pivot, the pusher having the'two opposite calns for engaging the lugs,

'bolt-locking lever and holding the lever in and the forward elevated surface adapted t o engage the forward'lug and hold the lever up in locking position, and means for holding 'the pusher again st' rearward movement ,while allowing the piece to have such movement, substantially as and for the purpose described.

32. In combinatiom with the pusher and tang thereof, the lug 011 the tang andra-lock to engage the lug and hold the pusher.' in its rearward position, said lock being construct- :ed to be unadeetedV by the movement of the gun, substantially as Vand forthe purpose specified.

33. In combination with'thebreeoh-mechanism-operating pusher and vits tang', the lug on the latter, the reciprocatingslotted piece embracing the tang, the piece into positionto engage the lug, subjstantiallyas and forthe purpose shown.;

' 34; In abreech-loading firearm; incombina- Q'tion-witli the pusher for actuating the breech jmechanism, the lock therefor to lock it from moving-forward situated in 'the grip of'the vstock in position to be engaged and moved to `unlock the pusher by the hand grasping the andthespring throwing stock,as ip the act of firing, substantially as 'and for the purpose set forth.

.In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day ofV Witnesses:

HENRY C. HAZARD, Giro. S. PRINDLE.'

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wirf w. KIM-BALL. 

